Installing new flooring is a big decision. Because the floor is often the largest uninterrupted space in a room, the look and feel of the flooring can set the tone all by itself: is this a warm room, or a cool one? A place to hang out and relax, a place to eat, or a place to work?

On top of this ability to dominate the mood of a room, the installation of new flooring is often a time-consuming and expensive project. Generally, people choose flooring with the intention of keeping it for many years. No one wants to hate something they’re going to look at for the next decade, so below, you’ll find a list of the best flooring ideas for 2017, along with a rough estimate of how much each type of floor would cost to install.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is one of the hottest flooring options this year, even in places where you wouldn’t traditionally see wooden floors: for instance, wood flooring has become the most popular kitchen flooring choice. This is especially the case for open layouts, where consistent flooring between the kitchen and living area helps the space to flow seamlessly.

There are a wide variety of hardwood options – from traditional hardwoods like oak, noted for its timeless beauty; to the newly popular bamboo, a renewable resource that is twice as hard as traditional woods; to the oh-so-trendy reclaimed wood, as famous for its unique look as it is for its sustainability.

The most popular choices this year are darker in color, gray, or otherwise aged-looking, as more and more people go for a vintage or rustic-inspired look.

Pros: Wood is beautiful and naturally warm, and can be sanded and refinished when damage is an issue. Some wood flooring is extremely green-friendly – look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Cons: Wood does not respond to dampness or humidity well, and can warp, discolor, or shrink, although some finishes may have less problems with this.

Cost installed: $8.00 to $12.00 per square foot, depending on the type of wood, project size, and your home’s location.

ROI: When you install quality hardwood floors for the right property, your ROI will be around 75%, depending on the total cost of the project and your property location.

Decks and patios are lifestyle upgrades that can make your summer that much more enjoyable, whether you’re relaxing in the evening or entertaining friends on the weekend.

Expect a wood deck to cost $7.00 to $11.00 per square foot installed depending on how complex the design is and the quality of the accessories like stairs, rails and post caps used. Composite decks cost up to $18.00 per sq. ft.

Patio costs begin at about $2.50 per sq. ft. for installed concrete slabs and range to about $15.00 for thick pavers arranged in an attractive pattern.

A wood deck creates a value of up to 71% of its cost according to national statistics we’ll be quoting throughout this post. The work will take a few days to a week or more to complete depending on the scope of the project.

Replacing that Old Roof

An old roof is susceptible to wind damage and subsequent leaks that cause mold, water damage and costly repair issues. Replacing old shingles protects your home and helps improve its curb appeal, too! 😉

Summer is a great time to replace your roof because the job requires several days of continuous, warm, dry weather. Pro roofers can complete the work in 2+ days depending on the size of the roof. Add a day if a tear-off of old roofing is needed.

A replacement roof will cost, on average, $3.00 to $8.00 per square foot for new asphalt shingles roofing installed, depending on the complexity of your roof and location of your home.

A new roof adds 69% of its cost to the value of your home, and it is something that must be replaced periodically anyway. That’s surely some good bang for your buck! 😉

Installing Yard Fencing

A wooden picket fence adds charm, while a PVC privacy fence helps you enjoy your yard to the fullest. — Those are just two of the many fence options in wood, metal and plastic. The ground is dry and easy to work with in the summer, though if you happen to have clay soil, a powered posthole digger will be useful. Most fences can be installed in 1-3 days when pre-built panels are used.

Fencing ranges in price from about $8.00 for picket and split-rail fencing to more than $30.00 per linear foot for steel or faux-stone PVC fencing installed. The taller and denser the fencing is, the higher the cost will be. While ROI isn’t tracked statistically, an attractive fence definitely makes a house more enjoyable and easier to sell.

Replacing your Home’s Siding

Are you tired of the peeling paint on the exterior of your home, yet? If so, then it’s time to consider installing a suitable siding rather than repainting yet again.

Siding is not only used for its aesthetics, but it can also protect your home against the elements, moisture and insects. It makes sense to have the siding installed or replaced in good weather to keep your sheathing dry and to help assure the work can be completed in a timely manner, usually less than a week for most single family homes.

Vinyl siding cost averages $6.00 to $8.00 per sq. ft. installed; fiber cement siding can cost some 20% to 30% more than vinyl, and must be installed by seasoned pros. One advantage of fiber cement over the less-expensive vinyl siding, is that it will not melt when subjected / exposed to extreme solar radiant heat such as when there is accidental solar lensing caused by neighboring windows or your porch / addition windows focusing the sunlight on a part of your home’s exterior. The ROI on new siding is an attractive 76%. If you opt for manufactured stone veneer on any part of the home, that option can have an ROI of almost 90%!

Fiber Cement as a siding option continues to be quite a popular choice. A review of U.S. Census data for new single-family houses sold in America shows Fiber Cement garners nearly a quarter of all siding materials. Brick, Wood and Vinyl are on a downward trend while Fiber Cement continues to gain in popularity. Stucco is, perhaps surprisingly, the #1 siding option in America where its popularity in the Western portion of the U.S. is enormous, but so is Fiber Cement in that region. The two materials in 2015 combined for a whooping 92% of the overall market out west.

Fiber Cement is commonly referred to as James Hardie, which is the company that originally created this plank board. It’s also called Cement Board, as the materials are made of cement, wood pulp, clay and sand. Fiber Cement is relatively heavy, quite sturdy and will last up to 100 years, while its surface usually needs repainting every 20 to 40 years.

Pricing Information – Part 1

Due to its weight, Fiber Cement routinely requires two workers to install each piece. For this reason, along with the idea that waste adds great expense to the project, the material is not well suited for DIY installation. There are essentially four styles of Fiber Cement: lap siding is the most common, shake and shingle, vertical panels, and artisan lap, which equals architectural grade of lap siding.

Fiber Cement lap siding costs $6.00 to $10.00 per sq. ft. installed. The other styles usually exceed $11.00 per sq. ft. Sticking with lap siding, the overall project cost for installing cement board on a typical two bedroom American home is $15,000 to $25,000. As there are numerous factors that impact the price, we will help explain that, but first let’s break down the costs. Note: this is a ballpark estimate example based on the national average cost of materials and job tasks.